South Asia and Far East WannabesA forum for those applying to Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or any other Hong Kong-based airline or operator. Use this area for both Direct Entry Pilot and Cadet-scheme queries.

I am also searching just like you for the best flight school here in the Philippines and in other countries. And after all the months of doing research, I came up with the thought that.. It doesn't matter which school you will do your training as long as you do your BEST in training and look for a school with QUALITY flight/ground instructors. Do your own research and inquire personally at the school if they meet your standards. Ask comments/opinions from students who have been ACTUALLY there for training.

Omni. If you want to fly ASAP, go to Omni. If you still want go through a long process of application, go to PAL. If you still want to go to college and get a BS Aviation degree integrated with flying, go to Airlink. But still I would always consider to go for a school that has clean reputation in the country.

What made me choose Omni is this.. (taken from a Philippine aviation blogsite) First to be certified as compliant school

July 13, 2010

Clark based Omni Aviation Corporation becomes the first flying school in the country to be certified as ICAO complaint after the Civil aviation Authority initiated a crackdown on aviation schools across the country with questionable student records.

Omni was the first one to be investigated unannounced by a seven-man team, led by a foreign Icao consultant. Omni boast a fleet of 22 airplanes consisting of 16 Cessna 152s, five Cessna 172s and one twin engine Piper Seneca based in its Subic branch.

Capt. Ben Hur Gomez of Omni Aviation Corp. said he fully supports this move by CAAP, as this would eliminate unscrupulous flying schools in the country, which destroy the reputation of the Philippines as producer of best pilots in the world. Captain Gomez has been with Philippine Airlines for 38 years and capped his career as vice president for safety and security.

“We are now 100-percent compliant of all the requirements.” Gomez said.

“We have a policy of no cheating. Flight-time padding is strictly prohibited, and solo flight time means the student is alone in the aircraft,” he adds.

The investigation is being conducted with the support of the National Bureau of investigation (NBI) which discovered last month that some flying schools certify a pilot’s license course for a consideration of $30,000 to $50,000. Some flying schools were found to have padded students flying hours by logging flights that were not flown.

Hey you should try Clark Aviation. No use listening to all these talks and more talks. Just go there and see the facilities for yourself and meet their staff and training team, then go to the other schools. After that, you decide. I am confident you will choose Clark Aviation.

is there any best flying school in the Philippines? or rather to say... which flying school in the philippines have a good safety record?!

in reality, our aviation industry in philippines is already in bad state situation..

due to safety issues...

who are responsible for this?!

those evil minded persons didn't think the "safety" of others and they don't care those person who works to maintain the aircraft airworthy and "safe" to fly..

those type of persons looks like "face-money"

we can help each other to regain our industry again in a good state specially in "safety".

sharing good information, experience and knowledge will be a good start to regain our good reputation in aviation safety and prevent incidents/accidents, and learn from the mistakes happened in our industry....

ok..

what are the good advices to earn time hours legally and choose a school to start a career in flight and options to do this thing?!

there is only 2 options to do that!

#1 option: if you have lots of money, buy a own aircraft!

Cessna 152 is range between 1.5M to 2M depending on the condition
[this include total time(flight cycle) and maintenance history]

and also prepare for the following:

a. Certificate of airworthiness of CAAP b. parking fee[depends on the weight of the aircraft] c. take-off and landing fee d. parts/component will be needed to the aircraft during maintenance period. e. fee for repairs/maintenance for the aircraft. f. gasoline will be used in aircraft [Avgas/Mogas]

then study a PPL and CPL ground in a certified flying school then hire a FI to fly with our own aircraft and pay him a right price and once you have your rating to your own aircraft. then fly all the time to have a flight hours experience.

who will maintain your privately owned aircraft?

just go to the CAAP authorized repair station and they will fix/maintain your aircraft.

option #1 is a very expensive idea but if you think it is a "investment" go for it...and you feel the own "safety"

#2 option

choose a flying school has a good safety record

[this includes aircraft condition (if it is already involved in accident or experienced already a hard landing) and maintenance history(this includes engine overhaul, airframe flight cycle, or any alteration and modification to the aircraft), and GI and FI will trained you (background check)

school background

[this include the owner of the school and how the school runs and how the school treat their employees and students and facilities if it is standard or substandard]

and the environment of the school!

[if those students are studying has a good attitude or bad attitude and the GI/FI is capable enough to do responsibilities specially in safety and how he/she handles the student]

to avoid hokus pokus [fly-by-night]

every students wants to fly in a cheaper price or exact price. and each of every flying schools offers a cheap and quite high price!

ok! if the price is right! and it is very reasonable..then go for it..

if i'm not mistaken a single engine aircraft[cessna] ranges P6500 to P9000/HR depending on the size, and technology[if it is conventional cockpit or glass cockpit]

what are the factors that you must know why the price is high or cheap?!

a. if the flying school is certified and licensed by CAAP and TESDA b. know the aircraft history, if it is brand new, second hand or aged aircraft c. the person who operated/maintained the aircraft strictly followed the operation/maintenance manual d. what gasoline is used to the aircraft? Mo-gas or Avgas? e. if the salary of the maintenance personnel is paid in a right price or not? and work his/her responsibilities to maintain the aircraft airworthy or not?! f. if the salary of the GI/FI is paid for a right price or not?! if he/she doing the responsibilities and safety of the student or just earning his/her flight time experience without taking care of students? g. what are the books/materials will be used? latest? updated? or obsolete?

much better if you inquire to a certain flying school, you must check and visit their facilities and aircraft.

talk not only to the GI or FI, but also talk with the Maintenance Personnel check the aircraft from inside to outside...

and look for some damage, corrosion and screws if it is the same or different sizes specially in the engine cowling!!

why? many of students don't know if the engine cowling of Cessna or other types of aircraft are "properly secured"

is Cessna, there is a clipnut inside the cowling to insert the screw..

so if you see the screws in the cowling are sames sizes... it is properly secured and if it is not and you seen different sizes..

think again....

about the process of license....much better to process your own license..

Anybody here know of airlines sposoring students in flight training? I know Cebu Pacific once did it a few years back when they sponsored some students to take MPL course. I think those MPL graduates are now flying with Cebu Pacific (lucky lucky guys!!).

Since PAL would be competing head on with Cebu Pacific in the low cost scene through AirPhil Express, would anyone know if AirPhil Express would be sponsoring students? Or would they just be recruiting the cadets in PAL Av once they finish their training? Any leads on this?

How about Zest Airways? Any expansion going on wherein they would be willing to sponsor?

just to add on toffeebuenafe's post... are these jobs readily available in the market today (I mean in-demand)? Can these jobs pay for your investment in flight training?

As a pilot wannabee myself, I fear that I might end up being unemployed after earning my license. I've always wanted to start my flight training and hopefully become an airline pilot someday but as I plan on taking this career path, there are certain gray areas that I see along the way. One of which is what am I going to do after earning my license? Will I do flight instructing or fish hauling or do any other pilot jobs out there? Are there enough opportunities to fill in certain pilot jobs in the Philippines? Can I recover the cost of my training with these jobs? Are the airlines hiring? Are the airlines particular with what flying school you come from?

It's really a big risk (career-wise, emotionally and financially). I've contemplated about this for quite sometime now and I hope anyone can enlighten me. You may start by answering my questions I posted above.

just to add on toffeebuenafe's post... are these jobs readily available in the market today (I mean in-demand)? Can these jobs pay for your investment in flight training?

in the long run it will. after getting the license, focus on building your multi-engine hours. some companies might let you fly/help you in building up those hours but no pay, until you meet their requirements. but then, those are precious multi time. you help them, they help you.

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Will I do flight instructing or fish hauling or do any other pilot jobs out there?

if workload permits, do it. flight instructing alone can not be your bread and butter.

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Are there enough opportunities to fill in certain pilot jobs in the Philippines?

im sure there are. it's all about asking or knowing the right person.

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Can I recover the cost of my training with these jobs?

of course. but, it will definitely take some time.

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Are the airlines hiring? Are the airlines particular with what flying school you come from?

there's no harm in giving your c.v. to all of them and updating it every now and then. they will look at the flying school for sure. they are also going to look at how you progressed, airports and airspaces you've been too, equipment you utilized etc.

hi guys, newbie here. was looking & reading around about what's the good school to have my flying lessons. so far i only saw a few from plaridel airport. ARG, MASTERS, FLITELINE, & TECHNOAIR.. what can you say abt these schools? im really looking for a good school where i can get a good training but not as expensive as the other schools. for example, fliteline offers php980k for the ground schl, ppl,cpl,ir training w/ 155 flying hrs, sim. arg offers php1.6m something for the same time fliteline is offering. is it worth it? any feedbacks would be of help. im planning to visit omni too, i heard they are jammed w/ students already,so some are saying that the students are having a hard time scheduling their flights due to lack of planes available? is it true?